Respect is an important character trait because it creates a safe and trusting environment that is critical to a successful learning environment. That is why it is so important to teach children. I use children’s books on respect as a gateway to open discussions in the learning environment. Whether you’re a teacher, counselor, or parent, using books to help illustrate a topic is a great way for kids to learn. As you read, ask questions and engage the reader.
I often cover being respectful in my lessons, I use this Character Education Respect Curriculum that includes everything you need to teach respect in your classroom. Looking for more ideas on how to incorporate respect in the classroom? Check out this blog post on Teaching Respect in the Classroom. Here is a list of some of the awesome children’s books about respect out there that I use to help teach this topic to students.
You are reading: Children’s books about respect
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THE WAY I ACT
book title and author: the way i act by steve metzger
A brief summary of the book: This book explores what thirteen different types of behavior look and feel like. the main character learns to identify and label her feelings while recognizing why she acts the way she does in various situations. he is able to determine whether past choices have been positive or negative and realizes that his actions always affect others.
why i like the book: steve metzger wrote the way i act to be easy to understand and captivate with poetic explanations of different behaviors. Janan Cain’s illustrations provide a great addition to the story as they are bold and playful.
The moral of the story: The choices you make and how you act matter! positive actions make a difference.
topics covered: character; positive behaviors; self control; emotional regulation
where can i buy this book (affiliate link): how do i act on amazon
BADITUDE!
title of the book and author: evil! by julia cook
a little summary of the book: evil! is a story about noodle day where everything seems to suck. he thinks homework sucks, practice sucks, yard work sucks, and family photos really suck. Noodle has a bad attitude or “badness”, and his friends start avoiding him. Noodle’s mom and teacher help him learn that his bad attitude is affecting his own mood and that of those around him. noodle begins to change her perspective from “I have to” to “I have to” and “evil” to “gratitude”. by learning to look at things positively, more positive things will come.
Why I like the book: This is a great discussion book for parents or teachers to use with children. gives many examples of real-life childhood situations and gives practical tips for adults to do with children to help turn bad habits into gratitude.
The moral of the story: How we react to situations makes a big difference.
topics discussed: gratitude; thinking; cognition; attitude
where can I buy this book (affiliate link): baditude on amazon
THE RECESS QUEEN
title of the book and author: recess queen by alexis oneill
a brief summary of the book: means that jean is a bully. she is mean to all the other kids on the playground during recess. she is called the “recess queen”. they’re all afraid of bad jean and only play when she says they can. Things on the playground start to change when Katie Sue moves into the school. katie sue doesn’t know mean jean and all her rules. katie sue starts playing and that makes jean very angry. Katie Sue asks Bad Jean to play with her. bad jean is so shocked and he decides to play instead of fight. they become friends, and recess is a much more pleasant place for everyone because bad jeans aren’t bad anymore.
why i like the book: recess queen helps teach students how to handle problems with their peers. The rhyming words and nonsense words in this book are fun for young learners and keep them engaged.
the moral of the story: kindness goes a long way!
topics discussed: harassment; conflict resolution; amiability; respect
where can i buy this book (affiliate link): recess queen on amazon
BUT WHY CAN’T I?
title of the book and author: but why can’t I? by sue grave
A brief summary of the book: Noah and his younger sister, Rosie, feel that following the rules is difficult and try to rebel against all the rules that their babysitter sets. They don’t take turns, they don’t go to bed on time, and they don’t look at both sides of the crosswalk. their babysitter explains that everyone has rules to follow, even adults. She uses her work as an example and ultimately helps Noah and Rose understand that rules help keep people safe, healthy, and happy.
why I like the book: but why not? It concludes with discussion questions and talking points to encourage children to talk about their feelings. The simple illustrations in this book show how the characters are feeling and what is happening in a clear way for children to understand.
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The moral of the story: Rules are important to everyone and must be obeyed for the safety and well-being of others and yourself.
topics covered: rules; obedience; listening; respect; emotions; behavior
where can I buy this book (affiliate link): but why not? on amazon
DO UNTO OTTERS
Book Title and Author: Do with Otters: A Book on Manners by Laurie Keller
a brief summary of the book: mr. rabbit has new neighbors, the otters. he knows nothing about otters and begins to worry about whether they will get along or not. Mr. rabbit’s friend mr. owl encourages him to treat them the way he would like to be treated. Mr. the rabbit learns to be a good friend and neighbor by following the golden rule.
Why I like the book: This story helps students think about good manners by using concrete examples of ways to be kind and treat others. the pictures are cute, and each page is occupied, so students have plenty to look at as they make word connections.
the moral of the story: treat others the same way you want to be treated yourself.
topics covered: respect; Golden Rule; acceptance; positive behaviors
where can i buy this book (affiliate link): doing with otters on amazon
A LITTLE RESPECTFUL SPOT
book title and author: a respectful little place: a story about respecting people, places and things by diane alber
a brief summary of the book: the respectful place takes a boy and a girl on a journey teaching them to be respectful. spot shows them that respect can be practiced throughout the day. Children learn different reasons to show respect, such as safety and kindness. They learn that they can show respect to people by listening and using kind words, to things by cleaning and using items correctly, and to places by knowing and following the rules. spot uses many examples of being respectful of people, places, and things to help the boy and girl understand this behavior.
Why I like the book: The many examples relate to children and help put the great emotion of respect, sometimes difficult to understand, into child-friendly language.
The moral of the story: We can be respectful in many situations.
topics covered: respect; Good choices; feelings
where can i buy this book (affiliate link): respectful little place on amazon or read for free on kindle unlimited.
THE BEST ME THAT I CAN BE: RESPECT
book title and author: respect: the best i can be by rose angebrandt
A brief summary of the book: This story is told through the voice of a young boy named Keigan. he wants to be the best he can be. His parents, teacher and his friends are all very special to him. he tries to be kind and respectful all the time, but sometimes he makes mistakes, like when he uses his mom’s dresses to make a tent outside. he learns that forgetting to show respect to the people around him is a big problem. sometimes it is necessary to turn an evil into a good, and that is showing respect.
why i like the book: this book is a practical story to help children learn to be respectful. the examples are easy to follow and the illustrations provide great support in understanding the concepts of the characters.
the moral of the story: respect is more than just what you say; it’s what you do!
topics covered: respect; Respect yourself; character
where can i buy this book (affiliate link): the best i can be on amazon or read for free on kindle unlimited.
KNOW AND FOLLOW RULES
book title and author: know and follow the rules of cheri j.
A brief summary of the book: This story shows the students at school and begins by explaining the reasons why there are rules there. rules are to help keep everyone safe, learn, be fair, and get along with others. listening, doing your best work, using manners, and keeping your hands and body to yourself are highlighted as four ground rules throughout the story.
Why I like the book: The concept of following the rules is clearly expressed for younger students who may not yet understand the rules in a school setting. By dividing the rules into four basic categories, it is easy for children to remember and apply them later. this also allows for great classroom discussion to reinforce ideas and skills.
the moral of the story: it is important to keep the rules for the good of others and oneself. positive feelings of pride can be developed when you follow the rules.
topics covered: rules; Good choices; respect
where can i buy this book (affiliate link): know and follow amazon rules
THAT RULE DOESN’T APPLY TO ME
book title and author: that rule doesn’t apply to me! by julia cook
a brief summary of the book: a boy named noodle struggles to have so many rules; he feels like all the rules get in the way of his having fun. noodle doesn’t think the rules matter or really apply to him, and wishes he could have a day without rules. Noodle’s teacher and mom try to convince him that the rules are meant to help him and those around him, not to hurt them or spoil the fun.
why i like the book: this book helps teach the importance of thinking of others and the need to follow rules in a way that is easy for children to understand. it also highlights a very important topic in the classroom in a light-hearted way while promoting discussion among students.
The moral of the story: It’s important to follow the rules to help keep everyone safe.
topics covered: following rules; safety; thinking of others; emotion management; regulatory behaviors
where can i buy this book (affiliate link): that rule does not apply to me on amazon
WHAT IF EVERYBODY DID THAT?
book title and author: what if everyone did that? by ellen javernick
A brief summary of the book: This story is about a boy who decides to make bad decisions, such as being rude in a restaurant, talking when he shouldn’t, and littering. Everyone the child knows asks, “What if everyone did that?” Hearing this question over and over makes the child start to think about what would really happen if everyone chose to do things the way he did, and he realizes that he has been wrong. the story ends on a positive note when he comes home and hugs his mother as she thinks “what if everyone did that?” and he decides that the world would be a better place if everyone made that decision.
why I like the book: what if everyone did that? shares fourteen examples to help understand the cause and effect relationship of behaviors. This book emphasizes that we all have a role in maintaining happiness and safety in our homes, schools, and neighborhoods. if we don’t think about others, our environment can become chaotic very quickly. This book is a great tool to help introduce school and/or classroom standards and procedures at the beginning of the school year!
the moral of the story: our behaviors affect others. each of us is responsible for making decisions that have a positive impact on our community.
topics covered: community; behaviors; impact; respect
where can i buy this book (affiliate link): what if everyone did that on amazon or read it for free on kindle unlimited?
resources on respect
Combine your favorite children’s books about respect with these character education activities to create the perfect lessons for the classroom.
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